The Mursi live in south west Ethiopia  on the East side of the Omo river, a large river that goes into Lake Turkana in northern Kenya . The Mursi, are surrounded by many other groups of people, many of whom are traditionally enemies, with whom they may have war at any time, due to land expansion, cattle raiding, and other reasons. Until the 1970’s, the Mursi were not aware that they were part of a country called Ethiopia . They have always been very isolated from other people and from the government of Ethiopia . This is due, primarily, to the very difficult access into their land. They are isolated by mountains and rivers and the fact that their land is not suitable for the lifestyle of the highlanders, whose land is very fertile (and cooler) and sustains agriculture without constantly moving from one place to another. Mursi Culture is based on their cattle. Cattle mean everything to them. Cattle are their bank account, sustenance, a symbol of their wealth and power, as well as being the basis for their names, their dreams and identity. Mursi men and boys move around a lot with their cattle. Except for watching cattle, doing clearing of land for another planting season, helping some with harvest, and being the warriors in times of war, the men do not have very great daily responsibility. Women build small grass houses and plant crops, mostly sorghum and maize. When a growing season is done, they will move somewhere else. A woman’s daily life is made up of carrying water, picking leaves from edible plants, grinding grain, cooking dinner, watching children, as well as guarding crops from birds or baboons, planting, weeding, harvesting, depending on the time of season. They are very busy.

Travel Ethiopia and visit these ancient peoples and partake in their traditions.Tags:Cultural attraction of Ethiopia,Omo valley tribes,Tour and travel to Ethiopia,Tourism in Ethiopia,Tribes and peoples of Ethiopia